What happens when childhood masks become so convincing that even our closest friends can't see beneath them? In this deeply moving conversation with my friend of 25 years, Michael Gunderson, we peel back layers of a life marked by trauma, resilience, and ultimately, transformation.

Michael shares his journey through his parents' divorce, his mother's suicide during his senior year of high school, and the alcohol-fueled household that taught him to be hypervigilant and people-pleasing. Despite being known as the ultimate "cool kid" in high school – athletic, funny, and seemingly carefree – Michael was silently drowning in grief and abandonment issues that would follow him for decades.

The conversation takes a powerful turn as we explore how the pandemic became an unexpected catalyst for healing. Isolated with his thoughts and finally forced to confront long-buried pain, Michael found solace in therapy and wisdom from podcasters who helped him understand his patterns. His revelation that "I had to get away and I didn't care how long it was going to take" speaks to the courage required for true transformation.

Most compelling is our discussion about the masks we all wear and how emotional availability isn't always a reflection of love – a realization that transformed not just Michael's understanding of his childhood but my approach to all relationships. His journey from anxiety to confidence, from avoidance to confrontation, offers hope that we're never too broken or too old to change our stories.

Whether you're wrestling with family trauma, addiction patterns, or simply feeling stuck in old behaviors, this raw conversation illuminates how vulnerability becomes our greatest strength. Listen and be inspired to take that first step toward becoming who you truly are.